Tulane Law's Online Programs Celebrate 10th Anniversary

For a decade, Tulane University Law School has been redefining how legal education reaches working professionals.

What was announced in 2015 and began in 2016 with a single online Master of Jurisprudence (MJ) in Labor & Employment Law has grown into a nationally recognized portfolio of graduate programs that has educated professionals across the country while extending Tulane Law School’s reach far beyond New Orleans. Designed for professionals whose careers increasingly intersect with the law, the Tulane Law online programs have empowered leaders to navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges without pursuing a Juris Doctor.

Today, Tulane offers online MJ degrees in Labor & Employment Law, Energy Law and Environmental Law, serving professionals in an array of industries.

“Our online programs give working professionals not only legal knowledge but also the tools and confidence to understand the law, navigate complex regulatory environments and make informed decisions that strengthen their organizations and industries,” said Tulane Law Dean Marcilynn Burke. “Over a decade, we have seen that exceptional teaching, meaningful faculty engagement and a strong academic community help these professionals to thrive in the classroom and in their careers.” 

Founded in 2016 by inaugural director Joel Friedman, the Labor & Employment Law program was the first of its kind at Tulane. Its first class graduated in 2018, and since then, more than 1000 students have enrolled in the various programs offered.

In 2021, the law school expanded its online offerings with the addition of the Energy Law and Environmental Law programs, and the following year, with Friedman’s retirement, then-Dean David Meyer appointed Saru Matambanadzo, the Moise S. Steeg Jr. Associate Professor of Law, to serve as the senior director of online legal education.

“Tulane Law is a real innovator in this space. Over the past decade, our targeted online programs have demonstrated that the same kind of exceptional world-class legal education we provide to our JD students can reach legal professionals wherever they are,” Matambanadzo said. “We’re proud of the impact our graduates are making in their organizations and communities across the country.”

Unlike traditional law degrees designed to prepare attorneys, Tulane’s MJ programs are tailored for professionals whose work requires a sophisticated understanding of the law. Students learn directly from Tulane Law faculty and experienced practitioners through asynchronous simulations, live online classes, interactive discussions and applied coursework focused on solving real-world legal and regulatory challenges.

Learn more about the programs.

For many graduates, the impact of the program is measured by the opportunities it creates.

Labor & Employment Law alumna Becca Ingman said the program directly accelerated her professional trajectory. Shortly after completing the curriculum, she earned a senior leadership position at her organization, where she now partners with executive leadership on high-impact decisions.

“The depth of legal understanding I gained, particularly around federal and California labor laws, has earned me credibility and trust at that level,” said Ingman, who received an award from MJ faculty for having one of the best capstone papers in her cohort. “Tulane gave me not just knowledge but confidence, the kind that changes how you lead, influence and advocate.”

She credits the program with sharpening her legal reasoning, strengthening her ability to identify compliance and risk issues and fundamentally changing how she approaches leadership.

For alumna LaKeshia Taylor, who enrolled in the MJ Energy Law program after more than two decades as a mechanical engineer and engineering leader, the transformation came from seeing familiar challenges through an entirely new lens.

“The MJ program transformed how I approach my career by expanding my perspective beyond engineering and strengthening my understanding of the legal and policy considerations that influence the energy industry,” Taylor said. “Tulane’s MJ program showed me that the most impactful leaders don’t stay within the boundaries of a single discipline; they build bridges between them.”

Taylor received an award from the program as well — The MJ Spirit Award — given to a student who gives back to the Tulane community in exceptional ways through service and peer mentorship. 

New workplace regulations, environmental policy developments and the rapidly changing energy sector continue to shape the curriculum, ensuring graduates leave prepared to address the increasingly complex legal and regulatory issues facing their organizations. As the programs enter their second decade, Matambanadzo said Tulane remains committed to evolving alongside the industries it serves.

“Our online programs embody what Tulane Law does best,” Matambanadzo said. “They combine academic rigor with practical application, connect students with extraordinary faculty and industry leaders and create a community that extends far beyond our campus. We look forward to building on that legacy for many years to come.”